People represent different countries during seminars on conflict scenarios with China, organised for youth by the Kuomintang (KMT) party, in Taipei, Taiwan May 21, 2023. Younger voters are again playing a role - but this time they are gravitating to dark horse candidate who has become the DPP's closest challenger. Ko Wen-je, a 64-year-old former Taipei mayor, has won over many younger voters with plain talk on issues such as high housing costs rather than focusing on the China threat. Some younger voters may show their hands late, so Ko's appeal to that demographic could close the gap with Lai. Although it may have a healthy lead in opinion polls, the DPP is acutely aware of the dangers of losing younger voters.

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Persons: Ann Wang, Tsai Ing, William Lai, Ko Wen, Ko, Lai, Terry Guo, Chen Kuang, Chen, Hou Yu, Mao Zedong's, Ho Chih, yung, Ho, Zheng De, Zheng, Sarah Wu, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, John Geddie, Gerry Doyle Organizations: Kuomintang, KMT, REUTERS, Rights, United States, Democratic Progressive Party, Taiwan People's Party, Taiwanese Public, DPP, Apple, Chung Cheng, Taiwan's, ih, Reuters, Thomson Locations: China, Taipei, Taiwan, Rights TAIPEI, Beijing, United, Hong Kong, Lai, Chung Cheng University